[WilyMinx]

A cute 5 year old female British Short Hair is looking for a new home.

Her real owners have just had a baby, so they won't be able to look after the cat for another year or so.

I was supposed to take care of her for a couple of years but only found out afterwards that my bf is allergic to cat hair. He is taking antihistamines but they're not really working. He is still coughing and wheezing whenever he is exposed to her fur.

It is heartbreaking for me becoz she has become attached to us and is very comfortable in our home.

Is anyone prepared to give her a temporary home? Her owners say if she is well looked after, we can look into making this arrangement permanent.

She has a very beautiful coat and was a one time winner of a cat show (details can be provided by her owners). Please drop me an email if you're interested.

wilyminx@yahoo.com

[XI_YAN]

why can't the owners look after her? all the those fallacies and old wive's tales about cats and babies are precisely that.

[WilyMinx]

She is worried about Toxoplasmosis which is a genuine concern for pregnant women. I am not sure about the health risks in infants but I am not going to persuade her to take the cat back in case, touch wood, anything does happen to her baby.

[luvyanxx]

My friend is 6 months pregnant and has 2 BSHs and she hasn't given up her cats. As long as pregnant women don't change their litter trays it shouldn't affect them, should just ask hubby or helper to change. Cat's need very little attention from their owners as it is so I don't understand why they need to be found new homes.

[saphireruby]

I don't know much about cats (we have a tiny dog). My girls have wanted a cat for the longest time. Do cats pee all over the place? Would this cat be ok with young children and a small easy going dog?

[hello_there]

Originally Posted by WilyMinx

She is worried about Toxoplasmosis which is a genuine concern for pregnant women. I am not sure about the health risks in infants but I am not going to persuade her to take the cat back in case, touch wood, anything does happen to her baby.

Toxoplasmosis is a concern for pregnant women, but you said your friend already had the baby. Congenital toxoplasmosis affecting fetuses is not a concern once the child is born. I don't care why your friend is pawning off her cat and am glad that she is taking care of it instead of abandoning it, but pls don't spread false info about toxoplasmosis. Almost all OB/GYNs and pediatricians will tell you that as long as a litter box is emptied once every 24 hours or more often the risk of speading toxoplasmosis is almost nil as the cysts that spread toxoplasmiosis require longer than a single day to become infective.

[PC_Man]

Can also add that toxoplasmosis is rare in HK.

There are also tests that can be carried out if your friend is really concerned (test for owner and test for cat available).

Most sensient people will not give up their cat when provided with the proper information and risk profiles.

[WilyMinx]

saphireruby, thanks for your message. No, the cat (or most cats for that matter) doesn't pee everywhere. She is fully litter trained and will use her tray wherever you put it. she will also cover up her own faces and pee in the tray so that the smell isn't strong and u may not realize until you see the litter has changed colours. She is a really lovely cat. Very low maintenance and friendly. If you like, I can show you some pics of her and give you more info.

she would be completely safe around young children as she is very good natured, but you have to make sure your little ones do not rub her belly as most cats do not like this and will scratch you in defense. she is a bit of a scaredy cat and may be afraid of your dog at first. as long as your dog is friendly and does not attack her, then they are likely to form a friendship gradually.

To other posters, I totally agree with your views. However, I cannot physically force her owners to take her back in, and if this is their decision, I can only respect it.

[WilyMinx]

hello_there, i am not spreading false information about Toxoplasmosis. as i said in my earlier msg, it is a genuine case for concern in pregnant women and while i do not know whether it affects babies or not, i will not force the cat back onto her owners anyway, as they have already made their decision. the easiest thing of course is to have them take her back in but they aren't making this an option.

[dropdedfwed]

hey Willy,

i think you've gotten the right info right here. there's one or two people that posted below that know a lot more about zoonoses than you'll even know existed.

Toxo is only a risk if the cysts are > 24hrs old. change the litter everyday, no prob.

Toxo is not that common in HK

any woman that has eaten take away food and eats meat, is highly likely to have been in contact with viable cysts, and is thus resistant to toxo.

But heh, this is not stopping you from your mission of re-homing this little cat, but these are the facts.

DDF